Wayne reports the following from a trip along A1A to Vero Beach today. Hundreds of Great Land Crabs were crossing A1A, apparently the females trying to get from their burrows on the muddy shores of the Indian River Lagoon to the ocean, where they deposit their eggs. According to a sign along the nature trail at the Barrier Island Center (BIC), their migration to the ocean occurs during full moon nights. Found some web sites that stated their major migration occurs just prior to a full moon and a minor migration just prior to a new moon. Last night the moon was in its last quarter, about seven days prior to a new moon. Maybe last night was the first clear, moonlit night in a long while. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Matchett - click on it to enlarge)
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Great Land Crabs
Wayne reports the following from a trip along A1A to Vero Beach today. Hundreds of Great Land Crabs were crossing A1A, apparently the females trying to get from their burrows on the muddy shores of the Indian River Lagoon to the ocean, where they deposit their eggs. According to a sign along the nature trail at the Barrier Island Center (BIC), their migration to the ocean occurs during full moon nights. Found some web sites that stated their major migration occurs just prior to a full moon and a minor migration just prior to a new moon. Last night the moon was in its last quarter, about seven days prior to a new moon. Maybe last night was the first clear, moonlit night in a long while. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Matchett - click on it to enlarge)
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